Practical Nursing (Miziwe Biik) (Flexible)
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code9354
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Practical Nursing and Health
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length2 years/ 6 semesters
- Delivery ModeIn-person
- LocationOff-site
- EmailPNPSWandHealth@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- PGWP AlignedNo
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Miziwe Biik Partnership
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising
This Practical Nursing (Flexible) program, in partnership with Miziwe Biik, is designed to support Indigenous learners in building meaningful, sustainable careers in healthcare. This is more than a program it is a guided journey into nursing built with respect for Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and community connection, while preparing you with the skills needed to succeed in today’s healthcare system. The program will offer you in-depth nursing knowledge, skills and judgement required in today's complex health care environment.
Curriculum in this Practical Nursing (Flexible) program is based on the:
- College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Practice Standards and Guidelines
- National Entry to Practice Competencies for Registered Practical Nurses
- Practical Nursing Program Standard for Ontario Practical Nursing programs (Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development)
- Indigenous ways of knowing
The Practical Nursing program meets the competencies that reflect the evolving and expanding role of the practical nurse as provided by the Nursing Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These competencies will include learning to provide safe, competent and ethical care using resources and technologies for an increasingly complex client population. The Practical Nursing program will also serve as preparation to practice autonomously in a variety of settings.
Program Overview
This Practical Nursing (Flexible) program, in partnership with Miziwe Biik, is designed to support Indigenous learners in building meaningful, sustainable careers in healthcare. This is more than a program it is a guided journey into nursing built with respect for Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and community connection, while preparing you with the skills needed to succeed in today’s healthcare system. The program will offer you in-depth nursing knowledge, skills and judgement required in today's complex health care environment.
Curriculum in this Practical Nursing (Flexible) program is based on the:
- College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Practice Standards and Guidelines
- National Entry to Practice Competencies for Registered Practical Nurses
- Practical Nursing Program Standard for Ontario Practical Nursing programs (Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development)
- Indigenous ways of knowing
The Practical Nursing program meets the competencies that reflect the evolving and expanding role of the practical nurse as provided by the Nursing Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). These competencies will include learning to provide safe, competent and ethical care using resources and technologies for an increasingly complex client population. The Practical Nursing program will also serve as preparation to practice autonomously in a variety of settings.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Companies Offering Jobs
- Hospitals (Acute Care)
- Long-Term Care Organizations
- Community and Home Care Organizations
- Private Clinics and Specialty Health Centres
- Mental Health and Addiction Organizations
Program Highlights
- Practical Nursing program faculty members have extensive clinical and in-classroom teaching expertise.
- Classroom instruction will be supplemented by independent study, multimedia support and ongoing clinical experience.
- Some courses in the program will be delivered through a combination of classroom and online instruction (blended courses).
- Small group instruction in clinical and laboratory setting will utilize the latest technology, such as computerized simulation.
- The School of Community and Health Studies' nursing lab recreates an actual hospital floor, complete with nursing stations and operating room facilities.
- You'll gain the edge over the competition by working within the advanced clinical simulation facilities and using highly realistic computerized "patients".
- The program will allow you to immerse yourself in the nursing field through a variety of acute, rehabilitation and long-term care agencies with industry-leading health care providers.
- All graduates of Practical Nursing programs within Ontario will be required to take the new REx-PN Registration Exam.
Career Outlook
- Clinical Nurse
- Community Health Nurse
- Palliative Care Nurse
- Educator
- Home Care Nurse
- Entrepreneur
Placement Partners
Major Hospital Systems
These hospitals commonly host nursing learners from Centennial and other GTA nursing programs.
Scarborough and East Toronto
- Scarborough Health Network (SHN)
- Centenary Hospital
- Scarborough General Hospital
- Birchmount Hospital
- SHN regularly hosts nursing and allied health learners in clinical placements.
Downtown and Academic Hospitals
- University Health Network (UHN)
- Toronto General Hospital
- Toronto Western Hospital
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Baycrest
Other GTA Hospitals
- Trillium Health Partners (Mississauga / Credit Valley)
- Michael Garron Hospital
- North York General Hospital
- Brampton Civic
- Humber River Regional
- St. Joseph's Hospital
- Providence Health
These types of hospitals commonly appear as clinical employers and placement sites for nursing students in GTA programs.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Homes
Practical Nursing students typically complete early clinical placements and consolidation placements in long-term care settings. Examples of organizations that commonly host GTA nursing students:
- Schlegel Villages
- Sienna Senior Living
- Extendicare
- Chartwell Retirement Residences
- Revera
- City of Toronto Long-Term Care Homes
- Multiple other LTCs across the GTA
Given your own program initiatives (like Living Classroom models), LTC homes are a major clinical partner category.
Community and Rehabilitation Organizations
Later placements often include community and rehab settings. Typical examples:
- VHA Home HealthCare
- ParaMed Home Health Care
- Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SE Health)
- Toronto Grace Health Centre
- Providence Healthcare
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required)
- Grade 11 Mathemathics (M or U) or Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required)
- Grade 11 Biology or Grade 12 Biology (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required). The course used for admission must have been completed within seven years of the program start date.
- Grade 11 (C or U) or Grade 12 (C or U) One additional science (Physics, Chemistry, or Exercise Science), or equivalent (minimum grade required). The course used for admission must have been completed within seven years of the program start date.
- Minimum grade scores: 75% in each required subject (65% in U- or A-level courses) and an overall average of 80% in the four required subjects.
Additional Requirements
Language proficiency may be demonstrated by successfully completing three full years of secondary or post-secondary education in Canada in English or in a school where English is the primary language of instruction and communication.
Miziwe Biik Partnership
Miziwe Biik Partnership
A pathway grounded in Indigenous knowledge, culture, and community support
Centennial College, in partnership with Miziwe Biik, is proud to offer a nursing education pathway designed to support Indigenous learners in building meaningful, sustainable careers in healthcare.
This is more than a program it is a guided journey into nursing built with respect for Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and community connection, while preparing you with the skills needed to succeed in today’s healthcare system.
Why this pathway exists
There is a growing need for skilled nurses across Canada. At the same time, Indigenous representation in healthcare continues to grow in importance. This program is designed to support both by creating accessible, supportive, and culturally responsive pathways into nursing education.
What you will learn at Centennial College
Centennial College brings strong, hands-on nursing education that prepares you for real clinical practice from the beginning of your studies. Students will benefit from:
- Modern simulation labs that reflect real hospital environments
- Practical, skills-based learning from experienced faculty
- Clinical placements in healthcare settings
- Curriculum designed to prepare you for real-world nursing practice
You will build confidence step-by-step, with the tools and training needed to enter the healthcare workforce.
How Miziwe Biik supports you
Through our partnership with Miziwe Biik, students have access to culturally grounded supports and trusted community connections, including:
- Guidance rooted in Indigenous values and perspectives
- Academic and personal learner support
- Community-based connection and engagement
- A supportive environment that respects identity, culture, and lived experience
You are not walking this path alone support is built into every stage of your journey.
A pathway built for your success
This program is designed to remove barriers and create real opportunity. It brings together strong academic preparation with culturally safe and supportive learning environments, helping you succeed not only in school, but in your future career.
Graduates of this pathway will be prepared to:
- Enter the nursing profession with confidence
- Provide compassionate, high-quality patient care
- Contribute to healthcare teams across Canada
- Step into leadership roles in the future
A shared commitment
This initiative reflects a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the ongoing work of building equity in post-secondary education and healthcare. It is about creating real opportunity, supporting community success, and investing in the next generation of Indigenous nurses who will lead change in healthcare systems across the country.
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Communicate therapeutically with clients and members of the health care team.
- Assess clients across the life span, in a systematic and holistic manner.
- Plan safe and competent nursing care, based upon a thorough analysis of available data and evidence-informed practice guidelines.
- Select and perform nursing interventions using clinical judgment, in collaboration with the client and, where appropriate, the health care team, that promote health and well-being, prevent disease and injury, maintain and/or restore health, promote rehabilitation, and/or provide palliation.
- Evaluate the outcomes resulting from all interventions in the nurse-client interaction and modify the plan of care as required.
- Act equitably and justly with clients and members of the health care team.
- Adapt to a variety of health care settings, using different leadership skills and styles as appropriate to each setting.
- Contribute to creating a healthy and safe work environment in a variety of health care settings.
- Practice in a self-regulated, professional and ethical manner, complying with relevant legislation and with the standards of both the regulatory body and the practice setting to provide safe and competent client care.
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Helena Pieroni, Practical Nursing, GraduateClinical placement really put me face-to-face with reality, but I realized that even little details in class or in the lab gave me the background to test my skills and improve them.